Managing privileged system access based on risk assessment

ABSTRACT

Managing privileged system access may be performed by a risk management system controlling user access privilege to production systems. One example method of operation may provide at least one of detecting an insecure user action at a user device, reducing an access privilege of a user profile associated with the user device to one or more privileged production servers, providing the user device with an application based on the insecure user action, determining that an outcome associated with the application has been achieved, and re-instating the access privilege of the user profile.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to system security, and morespecifically, to managing privileged system access based on riskassessment.

BACKGROUND

Users having access to production systems can inadvertently compromisethe security and integrity of their local workstation and attachedsystems due to poor secure computing practices. For example, a usermight inadvertently click on a link in a communication (such as aphishing email) resulting in malware installation taking place.Subsequently, the user might access a remote computer system hosting acommercial production workload from their compromised workstation,placing data in that remote production system at risk.

Current systems may rely on anti-virus software running on a user'sworkstation to detect and quarantine any malware. However, usersthemselves may not be aware that they have performed an insecurecomputing practice or that the anti-virus software on their computer hasquarantined such malware.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present application there is provided acomputer-implemented method for managing privileged system accessperformed at a risk management system controlling user access privilegeto production systems. The method may include at least one of: detectingan insecure user action at a user device, reducing an access privilegeof a user profile associated with the user device, to one or moreprivileged production servers, providing the user device with anapplication based on the insecure user action, determining that anoutcome associated with the application has been achieved, andre-instating the access privilege of the user profile.

According to another aspect of the present application there is provideda system for managing privileged system access, including at least oneof a risk management system controlling user access privilege toproduction systems. The risk management system includes at least oneprocessor and at least one memory configured to provide computer programinstructions to the processor to execute the function of the componentsincluding at least one of: a risk management component configured tocontrol user access privileges to one or more privileged productionservers, wherein the risk management server includes a processor and amemory configured to provide computer program instructions to theprocessor to execute functions, a user monitoring component that detectsan insecure user action at a user device, a user access update componentthat reduces an access privilege of a user profile associated with theuser device to the one or more privileged production servers, and anapplication component that provides the user device with access to anapplication based on the insecure user action, wherein the user accessupdate component determines that an outcome associated with theapplication has been achieved and re-instates the access privilege ofthe user profile.

According to a yet another aspect of the present application there isprovided a computer program product for managing privileged systemaccess, the computer program product including a computer readablestorage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, theprogram instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor toperform at least one of: detect an insecure user action of a user at anend user system, access a user profile for the user and reducing anaccess privilege of the user to privileged production systems, providethe user with access to a training session at their end user system, andthe training session is tailored to the insecure user action, anddetermine that the training session has been completed by the user andre-instating the access privilege of the user.

According to a further aspect of the present application there isprovided a method comprising at least one of detecting an insecure useraction at a user device, reducing an access privilege of a user profileassociated with the user device, to one or more privileged productionservers, providing the user device with an application based on theinsecure user action, determining that an outcome associated with theapplication has been achieved, and re-instating the access privilege ofthe user profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The application, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the presentapplication will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1A is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 1B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 1C is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 1D is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 2 is block diagram of an example embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of animplementation of a system in accordance with the present application.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of animplementation of a system in accordance with the present application.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system in whichthe present application may be implemented.

FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 6B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 6C is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

FIG. 6D is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present application.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numbers may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The described method, system and non-transitory computer readablemedium, in various embodiments, protect systems by monitoring forinsecure computing practices and restricting access when appropriate.

Systems, such as production systems, are any set of computers that hostan enterprise commercial workload and can include on-site systemsrunning enterprise applications, public or private cloud-hosted systemsrunning commercial applications, etc. Privileged users are able toaccess and initiate defined actions with respect to such productionsystems. Privilege may be defined as the delegation of authority over acomputer system, device and/or resource, and permission to perform anaction on the computer system or resource, which may be granted prior toor contemporaneous with an operation (such as an access operation).Examples of privilege include a permission to create a file, read ordelete a file, access a device, read or write permission to a socket forcommunicating over the Internet, etc.

Privileged users having access to production systems can inadvertentlycompromise the security and integrity on their local workstation and thesystems they access from that workstation through poor secure computingpractices. For example, a user may access sites or applications whichhave malicious code which can compromise the user's environment or anyenvironment operated by the user. A privileged user may perform insecurecomputing practices, often unknowingly or through lack of knowledge ordiscipline, due to online scams, poor user practices, lack of training,etc. Insecure computing practices may include, for example, selecting alink in a phishing email, browsing a non-approved or malicious website,accessing a non-approved cloud-hosted system, uploading files to anunapproved destination, attaching a non-approved external device to aworkstation, etc.

The instant solution, in one embodiment, may monitor for such insecureuser activity and may ensure that a user's privileged access issuspended, if required, and is only restored when the user has completedtraining appropriate to the type of insecure computing practice that hasbeen performed and/or when other remedial measures required by theapplication have been fulfilled.

Identity and access management systems may be capable of restrictinguser access to production systems based on profile information andpolicy configurations. The instant solution may combine those systemsand/or functionality with insecure computing practice detection and/or auser's training records.

Commercial production systems may permit access by privileged users whomay perform insecure computing practices. Specific pseudo-targetedattacks or tests may be generated by the instant solution in order todiscover the user population who might not have proper training aroundsecure computing practices. The instant solution may automaticallyrestrict a user's access to certain systems if the user responded totargeted attacks or perform insecure computing practices.

For example, an instant system might generate a phishing email with alink to a resource that looks harmless, even disguised as companybusiness. If a user responds to such a phishing attack, then the systemmay immediately reduce their existing login access to any productionsystems containing any data, such as confidential data. The system maybe configured to only allow access to production systems again when theuser has completed some action(s) such as answering various questions,agreeing to further on-line system monitoring, completing appropriatetraining, and the like.

The type of training that the user may be required to receive may betailored to the type of insecure computing practice that the user hasperformed. In this example, recognizing phishing emails and/or how toreport those emails appropriately may be examples of such training.Rather than committing the user to time-consuming actions, such as atraining course covering a wide variety of topics, the user might onlyhave to complete a short course covering the type of attack to whichthey responded. Criteria for establishing the type of test required fora particular user account may include identifying when the profile wascreated and depending on the age of the profile, the training, which maybe in the form of a test, may be more complicated, specific, basic orfundamental. The older the profile the more focused the test materialmay become. Additionally, another metric that can be considered, otherthan age of the profile, is how active a user profile is. For example,the more access attempts performed may dictate the type of test requiredto be administered to maintain security rights and/or privilegesassigned to that user profile. Also, the variety and type of systemfunctions, files and computing equipment, such as server(s), that theuser is accessing may also trigger specific actions, such as questionsand tests, to be provided to the user device and/or updated in the userprofile, prior to privileges being reinstated.

FIGS. 1A-1D and 6A-6D illustrate example flow diagrams of operationsincluded in examples embodiments of methods of managing privilegedsystem access.

A software component (which may include a specific software agentrunning on a user device and/or a system device) may be provided to auser system device to monitor a user's actions and report to a computersuch as a risk management system server or administrative device, whichmay be positioned in, or accessed via, an enterprise network. The riskmanagement system may remotely monitor an end user system for moreupdated information. One or more of the steps depicted in FIGS. 1A-1Dand 6A-6D may be performed by a risk management system (described inmore detail in FIG. 2) or other communicably coupled systems.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a method 100 may include one or more of:detecting an insecure user action 101 at an end user device or system(described in more detail in FIG. 2). For example, a notification may bereceived from a computer program and/or a software agent running on, incommunication with, an end user system or device (such as a wired orwireless communication device). The risk management system may reduce104 the user access in response to the detection, for example byperforming one or more of: changing user access privileges for the userto a non-access status, a reduction in privileges, a temporary accesswith an expiration period to complete the needed training, and the like.The reduction in the user access privileges may be directly relevant tothe insecure action detected.

In other embodiments, a continued monitoring (with or without the user'sknowledge) of a user's actions on a user device can occur without anyloss of privilege to further assess whether any action needs to betaken.

A notification may be provided 105 to the end user system that asecurity aspect has been violated and that access privileges have beenreduced or suspended. A notification or invitation to a tailoredtraining session may be provided 106 to the end user system device. Thetailored training session may be relevant to the insecure actionperformed by the user. According to one example, a user could receivepartial access based on the severity of an offense. An example mightinclude moving a user profile from one group to another group with lessprivileges but still preserving certain privileges while others aresuspended pending a result. As a practical example, a server might havedifferent groups defined with different sets of permitted commands. Theuser's group membership would be changed from a group with full modifyprivileges to a group with read-only access on the system.

The performance of the training session at the end user system may bemonitored. Once the tailored training session has been completed by theuser, the risk management system may reinstate or increase 107 theuser's access privileges. The training may include multiple pages ofcontent that must be accessed and logged electronically via an onlinetest conducted in a web browser and/or via an app or application runningon or accessible via the user device. The training may include a test orimages which are required to be accessed by the user's device. A scoremay be tabulated depending on the nature of the training and the scoremay be required to be above a minimum threshold in order to reinstatethe user's privileges.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a flow diagram 150 illustrates another exampleembodiment of the instant application in which one or more of thefollowing occurs: a targeted test, which may include an intentionalmalicious attack or a seemingly intentional malicious attack, isgenerated 151 by a risk management system (described in more detailherein) and sent to an end user device or system. It may be determined152 whether the user responds to the test or attack with an insecureaction, within a certain period of time in some embodiments. If the userdoes not take action and enact the potential attack, the method mayawait another test at a later time 153 (or provide immediate systemprivileges, not shown). If the user does respond to the attack with aninsecure action, one or more of the steps as shown in FIG. 1B may beperformed.

The risk management system may reduce 154 the user access, for exampleby changing user access privileges. The reduction in user access may bedirectly relevant to the generated attack or test. A notification may beprovided 155 to the end user system that a security aspect has beenviolated and that access privileges have been reduced, temporarilyrescinded or permanently rescinded. A notification or invitation to atailored training session may be provided 156 to the end user system.The tailored training session may be relevant to the generated attack ortest. Once the tailored training session has been successfully completedby the user, the risk management system may reinstate or increase 157the user's access privileges.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example method of operation 170 which includesone or more of: detecting an insecure user action at a user device 171and accessing a user profile associated with the user device andreducing an access privilege of the user profile to one or moreprivileged production servers 172. Further, the user device may beprovided with a training session 173 that is based on the insecure useraction, and once the training session has been successfully completed,the access privilege(s) of the user profile is re-instated 174.

FIG. 1D depicts a flow diagram of example embodiments of a method inaccordance with the present application. Referring to FIG. 1D, a flowdiagram 180 includes a method comprising one or more of: detecting aninsecure user action at a user device 181, reducing an access privilegeof a user profile associated with the user device, to one or moreprivileged production servers 182, providing the user device with anapplication based on the insecure user action 183, determining that anoutcome associated with the application has been achieved 184, andre-instating the access privilege of the user profile 185. The userprofile can undergo some satisfaction requirement in order to regainprivileges, whether it be a test, elapsed time, or some otherrequirement.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrates an example embodimentof the present application. The system 200 may include a system, such asa risk management system 210, which may include at least one of: aprocessor 211, a hardware module (not shown), or a circuit (not shown)that executes the functions of the described components which may besoftware units executing on the at least one processor. The riskmanagement system 210, in one embodiment, may be any device comprising aprocessor and memory. Multiple processors running parallel processingthreads (not shown) may be provided enabling parallel processing of someor all of the functions of the components. Memory 212 may be configuredto store computer instructions 213 that can be provided to or accessedby the at least one processor 211 to perform the functionality of thecomponents. In other embodiments, the computer instructions 213 may belocated on another system (not shown) that is communicably coupled tothe risk management system 210.

The risk management system 210 may be part of an identity and accessmanagement system of an enterprise or other entity regulating theidentities and access of users of end user system(s) 240 and theiraccess to privileged production system(s) 250 of the enterprise. In oneembodiment, the risk management system(s) 210 and the productionsystem(s) 250 may be a same system(s). The risk management system 210may receive data classification information 201 indicating what type ofinformation are stored on the different systems (for example,confidential data, personal information, sensitive personal information,etc.), role information and/or system topology information 202 for thesystems/devices that need to be protected, and user data information 203(such as a user profile, other user data, other users with privileges,etc.).

The risk management system 210 may include a user profile component 214that maintains a user profile based on the input user data information203 used to apply user privileges 223 to productions systems 250 by auser of an end user system 240. The risk management system 210 mayinclude a user monitoring component 216, which may interact with anagent 241 in the form of a monitoring application at the end user system240 to determine if a user carries out an insecure act using their enduser system 240. For example, the monitoring application may determineif the user connects to an external service or resource that is notapproved, such as a particular application, site, etc., attaches anexternal device that is not approved, for example, a USB device, visitsa website that is not approved, communicates with an improper email orinstant messaging address, etc. If such an action occurs, the agent 241may block the action and issue an alert 222 to the risk managementsystem 210.

The risk management system 210 may include a test generation component215 for generating targeted tests, which may simulate an attack such asa phishing attack or a entice a nefarious link or attachment, whichcontains malware, to be downloaded. The test generation component 215may generate one or more targeted tests 221 that may be sent to end usersystems 240. Each test may be different and may be tailored for eachlevel of privilege afforded by the system and for each scenario likelyto be encountered by such system users. A first particular test may besent to one or more end user system(s) 240 having certain user profilecharacteristics or certain access privilege(s) which require such a testas determined by the risk management system 210. In this way, pro-activetests may be used to test a user's response to such a controlled orsimulated attack to evaluate whether the user responds appropriately, inone embodiment, by not responding at all.

The user monitoring component 216 may be used to monitor the response ofthe user via the end user system 240. An alert 222 may be generated ifthe user makes an insecure or improper response. Since the response isto a test action, there is no actual risk that the user will compromisethe production systems.

The risk management system 210 may include a risk assessment component217 for assessing the risk posed by the response to the tests 221 orfrom a monitored behavior of the user. The system 210 may perform a riskassessment based on the user's privileges and current system access. Thesystem may update a user's privileged system access and revoke access tosystems containing confidential or sensitive information. The riskmanagement system 210 may include a user access update component 218 toreduce a user's access privilege(s) 223 responsive to a response messageto a test or an insecure action being conducted by the end user system240. The risk management system 210 may include a training component 219for providing a training session to the user of the end user system 240which may be tailored to the test(s) 221 or insecure action carried outby the user. Examples of training modules may include: how to recognizeand respond to phishing emails, cloud storage systems supported by theenterprise, attaching external devices to an enterprise device, how totake appropriate actions after a nefarious act has been committed, etc.Instead of a test, in other remedy approaches, a re-approval from amanager or other approver, including computer instructions 213, can beperformed. For example, a different user profile with privileges or withcertain authority to change a user's access levels can reinstate theuser's privileges. In one embodiment, once a period of time has elapsedwith no further offences from the user and/or with minor offenses fromthe user, the user profile may be switched or updated to allow fullsystem access or to allow access to a separate device which may bepre-approved and may be different than the user's usual device.

The training component 219 may monitor the user's completion of thetraining session and the user access update component 218 may increasethe user's access privileges 223 once the training has been completed.The increase in the user's access privileges 223 may re-instate thereduced user privileges or may allow new privileges due to the trainingbeing completed. The risk management system 210, in one embodiment, mayrestore system access, elevate privileges and change user profile statuswhen the end user has completed the appropriate training. The riskmanagement system 210 may generate targeted secure computing tests 221for end users and accept secure computing alerts 222 from end usersystems 240. When suspending user access, different actions can be takenbased on the severity of the offense, such as block the userimmediately, warn the user that their access will be blocked in acertain time period unless an activity is completed within the timeperiod, and the like. In another example, the application monitors theuser's actions and assesses whether those actions are further insecureuser actions or are non-insecure user actions. The monitoring may occurwith or without the user's knowledge. If it is determined that theuser's actions are non-insecure based on a length of time, a number ofactions, a sequence of actions, then access privileges of the userprofile can be be re-instated.

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram 300 illustrates an exchange ofevents between various entities in an example of the described stepsand/or method(s). In this example, an end user system 240 responds to arisk management system 210 generated communication or message, such as aphishing email. The risk management system 210 may generate a pluralityof simulated insecure computing attacks 301 which may be singular,sporadic or successive. The user of the end user system 240 may respond302 to the attack by taking an action, for example, by clicking on alink provided in the email message. As the attack is simulated, a user'sactions or responses on their device(s) are received by the riskmanagement system 210.

Based on the response, the risk management system 210 revokes 303 theuser's privileges 223, which may include complete revocation or partialrevocation to various components or systems such as production system(s)250. This may restrict the user's access specifically in response to thesecurity breach, which would have been identified by the response 302.The user's subsequent attempt to access the production system 250 wouldthus be limited or denied 304. Further, the risk management system 210may generate a notification to the end user system 240 informing one ormore users of the event and status change to their user profile andrequiring the user to undertake an action(s), such as an appropriatetraining course. When the training has been completed (and verified),the risk management system 210 may grant the limited or lost accessprivilege again or enact other privileges depending on the result of thetraining session and severity of the event.

Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic diagram 400 illustrates another exampleflow of events between entities in an embodiment of the described stepsand/or method(s). In this example, an agent 241 on the end user system240 may detect privileged users using an unsupported cloud service 410.The user of the end user system 240 may perform an insecure action 401such as uploading a document to an unsupported cloud based applicationor service 410. The agent 241 operating on the user's end user system240 may forward the details 402 to the risk management system 210. Therisk management system 210 may limit or revoke 403 the user's privilegedaccess 223 to the production system(s) 250. The user's attempt to accessthe production system(s) 250 would be limited or denied 404.

The risk management system 210 may generate a notification to the userinforming them of the events or actions taken by the user and requiringthe user to undertake appropriate training or particular reinstatementprocedure. When the training has been completed, the risk managementsystem 210 may grant the limited or lost access privilege again or enactother privileges depending on the result of the training session andseverity of the event.

In operation, the system application/server may monitor a user's usagefrom a security perspective of different applications and limit theiraccess to a production system accordingly. For example, the describedmethod monitors a user's compliance to security policies, and based onthe level of compliance “risk assessment” restricts access to privilegedsystems. In the case of a poor level of compliance, a user may berecommended specific training in order to boost his/her compliance leveland thus restore access to the privileged systems.

The example steps(s) and/or methods, according to example embodiments,monitor a user's behavior on their workstations, which may not be aprivileged or protected system, and based on that behavior the methodmay prevent access to a protected system. An evaluation of the client'srisk is made via separate tests, regardless of whether they areaccessing the protected server or not. For example, the user mightaccess an unsupported third party cloud system that is consideredinsecure. Based on this behavior, the user's access to the protectedsystem may be blocked. As such, in this example, the user is blockedbefore access to the protected system is achieved.

The example method may proactively generate tests for known privilegedusers to determine their current risk. The method may then generate atargeted set of training items for the user based on their riskybehavior, such as only permitting access to protected systems whentraining has been completed.

In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting an insecure user actionat a user device, reducing an access privilege of a user profileassociated with the user device, to one or more privileged productionservers, providing the user device with an application based on theinsecure user action, determining that an outcome associated with theapplication has been achieved, and re-instating the access privilege ofthe user profile.

With this example method, detecting the insecure user action at the userdevice further comprises receiving feedback from a monitoring agentoperating on the user device regarding an insecure action performed bythe user device, wherein the insecure action is identified as being partof a predefined set of insecure actions, detecting the insecure useraction at the user device further comprises: generating a test attackapplication prompting the insecure user action, sending the test attackapplication to the user device, and receiving a response notification tothe test attack identifying the insecure action, and reducing the accessprivilege of the user profile to one or more privileged productionservers comprises at least one of: reducing the access privilegecorresponding to the insecure user action, and providing a notificationto the user device that access privileges have been reduced.

With this example method, the application is a training session andwherein the outcome being achieved is the training session beingcompleted, where the insecure user action is an action that results in acompromise of the user device from which the one or more privilegedproduction servers are accessed. In other embodiments, the applicationmonitors the user's actions and assesses whether those actions arefurther insecure user actions or are non-insecure user actions. Thismonitoring may occur with or without the user's knowledge. If it isdetermined that the user's actions are non-insecure based on a length oftime, a number of actions, a sequence of actions, and the like, theaccess privilege of the user profile is re-instated.

With this example method, user data information, including a userprofile and role information is received, where a risk managementcomponent receives topology information for the one or more privilegedproduction servers that are protected with privileged user access anddata classification information listing types of information stored onthe one or more privileged production servers.

In one embodiment, a system comprises a risk management componentconfigured to control user access privileges to one or more privilegedproduction servers, wherein the risk management server includes aprocessor and a memory configured to provide computer programinstructions to the processor to execute functions, a user monitoringcomponent that detects an insecure user action at a user device, a useraccess update component that reduces an access privilege of a userprofile associated with the user device to the one or more privilegedproduction servers, and an application component that provides the userdevice with access to an application based on the insecure user action,wherein the user access update component determines that an outcomeassociated with the application has been achieved and re-instates theaccess privilege of the user profile.

With the system, the user monitoring component detects the insecure useraction at the user device by receiving feedback from a monitoring agentoperating on the user device regarding an insecure action performed bythe user device, where the insecure action is identified as being partof a predefined set of insecure user actions, where the user monitoringcomponent detects the insecure user action at the user device by a testgeneration component which generates a test attack application whichprompts the insecure user action, and receives a response notificationof the test attack identifying the insecure action, where the useraccess update component that reduces the access privilege of the user tothe one or more privileged production servers provides at least one of:reduces the access privilege corresponding to the insecure user actionand provides notification to the user that their access privileges havebeen reduced.

With the system, the application is a training session and wherein theoutcome being achieved is the training session being completed, whereinthe insecure user action is an action that results in a compromise ofthe user device from which the one or more privileged production serversare accessed. In other embodiments, via the user monitoring componentand the user device, the application monitors the user's actions andassesses whether those actions are further insecure user actions or arenon-insecure user actions. This monitoring may occur with or without theuser's knowledge. If it is determined that the user's actions arenon-insecure based on a length of time, a number of actions, a sequenceof actions, and the like, the access privilege of the user profile isre-instated.

With this example system, the risk management component receives userdata information including a user profile and role information, andreceives topology information for the one or more production serversthat need to be protected with privileged user access and dataclassification information listing types of information stored on theone or more production servers.

In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium isconfigured to store instructions that when executed cause a processorto: detect an insecure user action at a user device, reduce an accessprivilege of a user profile associated with the user device, to one ormore privileged production servers, provide the user device with anapplication based on the insecure user action, determine that an outcomeassociated with the application has been achieved, and re-instate theaccess privilege of the user profile.

With the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the insecureuser action is detected at the user device which further comprises theprocessor being configured to receive feedback from a monitoring agentoperating on the user device regarding an insecure action performed bythe user device, wherein the insecure action is identified as being partof a predefined set of insecure actions, where the insecure user actionbeing detected at the user device further comprises the processor beingconfigured to: generate a test attack application which prompts theinsecure user action, sends the test attack application to the userdevice, and receives a response notification to the test attack whichidentifies the insecure action, where the access privilege of the userprofile being reduced to one or more privileged production serverscomprises the processor being configured to reduce the access privilegecorresponding to the insecure user action.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic of an example of a system 500 inthe form of a computer system or server 512 is shown in which aspects ofthe described system may be implemented including, the risk managementsystem, end user system, and components of the production system(s).

A computer system or server 512 may be operational with numerous othergeneral purpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with computersystem/server 512 include, but are not limited to, personal computersystems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

Computer system/server 512 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 512 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

In FIG. 5, a computer system/server 512 is illustrated in the form of ageneral-purpose computing device. The components of the computersystem/server 512 may include, but are not limited to, one or moreprocessors or processing units 516, one or more system memories 528, anda bus 518 that couples various system components including system memory528 and processor 516. Bus 518 represents one or more of any of severaltypes of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or localbus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, andnot limitation, such architectures include Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, EnhancedISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) localbus, and Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 512 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 512, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 528 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 530 and/or cachememory 532. Computer system/server 512 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 534 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 518 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 528 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the application.

Program/utility 540, having a set (at least one) of program modules 542,may be stored in memory 528 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 542 generally carry out the functionsand/or methodologies of embodiments of the application as describedherein.

Computer system/server 512 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 514 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display524, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 512; and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 512 to communicate withone or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur viaInput/Output (I/O) interfaces 522. Still yet, computer system/server 512can communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 520. As depicted, network adapter 520communicates with the other components of computer system/server 512 viabus 518. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 512. Examples of such systems include, but are not limitedto: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a flow diagram 600 of an example embodiment ofa method in accordance with the present application comprises one ormore of: detecting a user action at a user device 602, determining ifthe detected user action is similar to a previous user action, whereinthe previous user action produced an insecure result 604, providing theuser action with a recommendation based on the insecure result, whereinthe recommendation is one of: to proceed or to not proceed 606, and whenthe user proceeds with the user action when the recommendation is to notproceed and another insecure result is produced, reducing an accessprivilege of the user to one or more computer systems until the usersatisfactorily completes a remediation program 608.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, a flow diagram 620 of an example embodiment ofa method in accordance with the present application comprises one ormore of: detecting a user at a user device 622, determining if the userhas previously taken an action that produced an insecure result 624,providing the user with a recommendation based on the insecure result,wherein the recommendation is one of: to proceed or to not proceed 626and when the user proceeds with the user action when the recommendationis to not proceed and another insecure result is produced, reducing anaccess privilege of the user to one or more computer systems until theuser satisfactorily completes a remediation program 628.

With respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the detecting is based on one or moreof: a biometric of the user, an identification of the user, anidentification of the user device, a location of the user, and alocation of the user device.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, a flow diagram 640 of an example embodiment ofa method in accordance with the present application comprises one ormore of: determining a user action at a device has a potential toproduce an insecure result 642, providing the user with a recommendationbased on the potential insecure result, wherein the recommendation is toproceed by following one or more steps 644, and when the user proceedsby following the one or more steps, allowing the user to perform one ormore of: continue with further user actions at the device, and continuewith further user actions at another device 646.

Referring now to FIG. 6D, a flow diagram 660 of an example embodiment ofa method in accordance with the present application comprises one ormore of: determining a user action at a device has a potential toproduce an insecure result 662, providing the user with a recommendationbased on the potential insecure result, wherein the recommendation is toproceed by following one or more steps 664, and when the user proceedsby not following the one or more steps, reducing an access privilege ofthe user to one or more computer systems until the user satisfactorilycompletes a remediation program 666.

With respect to FIG. 6D, the remediation program comprises one or moreof: providing the device with an application based on the one or moresteps not being followed, determining that an outcome associated withthe application has been achieved, and re-instating the access privilegeof the user.

The present application may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present application.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present application may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present application.

Aspects of the present application are described herein with referenceto flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theapplication. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present application. In this regard, each block inthe flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, orportion of instructions, which comprises one or more executableinstructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occurout of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present applicationhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

Improvements and modifications can be made to the foregoing withoutdeparting from the scope of the present application.

What is claims is:
 1. A method, comprising: detecting an insecure useraction at a user device; reducing an access privilege of a user profileassociated with the user device, to one or more privileged productionservers; providing the user device with an application based on theinsecure user action; determining that an outcome associated with theapplication has been achieved; and re-instating the access privilege ofthe user profile.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detectingthe insecure user action at the user device further comprises receivingfeedback from a monitoring agent operating on the user device regardingan insecure action performed by the user device, wherein the insecureaction is identified as being part of a predefined set of insecureactions.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting theinsecure user action at the user device further comprises: generating atest attack application prompting the insecure user action; sending thetest attack application to the user device; and receiving a responsenotification to the test attack identifying the insecure action.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein reducing the access privilege ofthe user profile to one or more privileged production servers comprisesat least one of: reducing the access privilege corresponding to theinsecure user action; and providing a notification to the user devicethat access privileges have been reduced.
 5. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the application is a training session and wherein theoutcome being achieved is the training session being completed.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insecure user action is anaction that results in a compromise of the user device from which theone or more privileged production servers are accessed.
 7. The method asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving user data informationincluding a user profile and role information.
 8. The method as claimedin claim 1, wherein a risk management component receives topologyinformation for the one or more privileged production servers that areprotected with privileged user access and data classificationinformation listing types of information stored on the one or moreprivileged production servers.
 9. A system, comprising: a riskmanagement component configured to control user access privileges to oneor more privileged production servers, wherein the risk managementserver includes a processor and a memory configured to provide computerprogram instructions to the processor to execute functions; a usermonitoring component that detects an insecure user action at a userdevice; a user access update component that reduces an access privilegeof a user profile associated with the user device to the one or moreprivileged production servers; and an application component thatprovides the user device with access to an application based on theinsecure user action; wherein the user access update componentdetermines that an outcome associated with the application has beenachieved and re-instates the access privilege of the user profile. 10.The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user monitoring componentdetects the insecure user action at the user device via feedback from amonitoring agent operating on the user device regarding an insecureaction performed by the user device, wherein the insecure action isidentified as being part of a predefined set of insecure user actions.11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user monitoringcomponent detects the insecure user action at the user device by a testgeneration component which generates a test attack application whichprompts the insecure user action, and receives a response notificationof the test attack that identifies the insecure action.
 12. The systemas claimed in claim 9, wherein the user access update component thatreduces the access privilege of the user to the one or more privilegedproduction servers provides at least one of: reduces the accessprivilege that corresponds to the insecure user action; and providesnotification to the user that their access privileges have been reduced.13. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the application is atraining session and wherein the outcome being achieved is the trainingsession being completed.
 14. The system as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe insecure user action is an action that results in a compromise ofthe user device from which the one or more privileged production serversare accessed.
 15. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the riskmanagement component receives user data information including a userprofile and role information.
 16. The system as claimed in claim 9,wherein the risk management component receives topology information forthe one or more production servers that need to be protected withprivileged user access and data classification information that liststypes of information stored on the one or more production servers.
 17. Anon-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructionsthat when executed cause a processor to: detect an insecure user actionat a user device; reduce an access privilege of a user profileassociated with the user device, to one or more privileged productionservers; provide the user device with an application based on theinsecure user action; determine that an outcome associated with theapplication has been achieved; and re-instate the access privilege ofthe user profile.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the insecure user action isdetected at the user device which further comprises the processor beingconfigured to receive feedback from a monitoring agent operating on theuser device regarding an insecure action performed by the user device,wherein the insecure action is identified as being part of a predefinedset of insecure actions.
 19. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the insecure user actionbeing detected at the user device further comprises the processor beingconfigured to: generate a test attack application which prompts theinsecure user action; sends the test attack application to the userdevice; and receives a response notification to the test attack whichidentifies the insecure action.
 20. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the access privilege ofthe user profile being reduced to one or more privileged productionservers comprises the processor being configured to reduce the accessprivilege corresponding to the insecure user action.